Lamp holder for tubular fluorescent lamps



Jan. 9, 1951 H. E. SEIM 2537,1151

LAMP HOLDER FOR TUBULAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS I Filed Feb. 1, 1945 Fig Z. Fig. 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR M. a W

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 LAMP HOLDER FOR TUBULAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Harry E. Seim, Bridgeport, Gonm, assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 1, 1945, Serial'No. 575,616

My invention relates, generally, to lamp holders or sockets for tubular discharge lamps of which the fluorescent lamp is one well known example, and, more particularly, to lamp holders of the lamp-locking type and to the locking device thereof. 1

In lighting fixtures of the type using fluorescent lamps,-fr example, it is common practice to mount the holders with their base portions in an upward position so that the main portion of the body member of the holder extends downwardly through a suitable opening in the reflector, the base portion being concealed behind the reflector. These holders are for the most part provided with a straight entrance slot in the front face and end thereof, this slot communicatin with a circular slot of such size as to permit the lamp prongs to be rotated in and out of engagement with the contact springs mounted within the body member of the holder. In other words, the arrangement is such that the lamp is inserted from the bottom, and unless it is properly inserted or, even in some instances, when it has been properly inserted, it may become loosened and fall into the fixture if it is of the enclosed type or to the floor if it is of an open type.

The necessity for keeping fixtures of this kind operating at maximum efiiciency requires frequent replacement of the lamps.

so that there are many opportunities for failure to properly insert the lamps into the lamp holders. Heretofore, attempts have been made to detachably lock the lamps in their holders by means of separate fittings or fasteners, but these devices have not been satisfactory for several reasons. While they may be effective in some instances as a locking device, they are not entirely satisfactory or. practical. Separate locking devices are easily lost and are not always replaced when the lamp is being changed. In addition, there are a great number of lighting fixtures in use with holders without lookin devices of any kind. The space available for the addition of the locking device to holders in use is quite limited in most fixtures, and the position of the holders is such that looking devices cannot be readily attached.

Accordingly, my invention is directed to a practical and economical solution to this problem and contemplates the provision of a holder of the locking type and a locking device that may be readily attached to holders already in use in lighting fixtures of all kinds and which shall function to efiectively lock the lamp in the holder.

A more specific object of my invention is to Many of the. fixtures are located in very inaccessible positions 2 Claims. (Cl. 173--328) provide a holder of the character described having a lockin device of such construction that it may be readily used in fixtures of all kinds with out modifying the design of the fixture and which may be readily actuated to and from its locking position.

Another object is to provide a locking device which may be readily applied to. lamp holders in use and fixtures of various kinds without dis.- mantling the fixture or modifying it in any way.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a holder of the lamp-locking type wherein the locking device is in the form of an L- shaped member constructed of relatively thin, fiat spring material attached to the body member of the holder by means of a shaft member inserted through an openin in the body mem her from the front or exposed face thereof.

A further object is to provide a locking device of such character that it may be readily positioned at the back of the holder and attached thereto by means of a machine screw inserted through an opening in the body member of the holder from the front thereof.

Another object is to provide a locking device of the character described wherein the attaching screw or shaft engages a threaded opening in a countersunk or distended portion of the device so that the distended portion engages the edges of the opening in the body member of the holder and functions as a bearing for the device.

A further object is to provide a locking device of the character described in which the shank portion of the L-shaped member is bowed to cause the bent-over end portion to tightly engage the end of the body member of the holder when the device is actuated to a locking position.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a lamp holder: embodyin the principal features of my invention; a

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the holder of Fig. 1 taken along lines II-II and showing the lamp prongs in a disengaged position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the holder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top View of the holder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking device of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a partial view of the locking device showing structuraldetai-ls; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views showing the modification of the locking device, particularly with respect to the method of attaching it to the body member of the holder.

Referring now to the drawing and, particularly, to Figs. 1 through 4, there is shown a lamp holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention.

The holder I is of known construction and comprises a body portion II which is recessed at l2 to receive a pair of contact springs I3 and I4 having their free ends disposed in cooperative relation with a slot arrangement in the face of the holder comprising a straight entrance slot l5 and a circular slot Hi. This arrangement is such that the lamp pins i! may be inserted into the holder through the straight entrance slot |5and rotated within the circular slot |6 into engagement with the contact fingers.

Lamp holders of thi type are usually mounted in an upside-down position, as shown, the base portion l8 of the holder being attached to a suitable mounting plate or the like within the lighting fixture and concealed by the reflector. The main portion I9 of the body member extends downwardly through an openin in the reflector.

Accordingly, it will be understood that in the event that the lamp is not properly inserted so that its contact pins are securely engaged with the contact fingers of the holder, the lamp may become loosened to such extent as to fall from the holder. A condition of this kind is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 where the lamp pins ll are shown in the straight entrance slot i5.

In order to prevent the lamp from falling from the holder under such conditions, the holder is provided with a lockin device, indicated generally at 20, which functions to obstruct the entrance portion of the straight slot l5.

In this embodiment of the invention, the looking device comprises an L-shaped member formed of relatively thin, flat spring material so as to be resilient and strong. As shown best in Fig. 5, the device comprises a shank portion 2| and an integral bent-over portion 22. The bent-over por tion 22 is provided with a pair of integral locking lugs 23 and 24 and a single actuating lug 25.

As shown in Fig. 5 and also in Fig. 3, the look ing lugs 23 and 24 are spaced apart so that both of them are in engagement with the side walls of the entrance portion of the straight slot l5 when the device is in locking position.

In order to provide for readily attaching the locking device to lamp holders already installed in lighting fixtures, provision is made for attaching the L-shaped member to the body member of the holder by a screw member which may be inserted through an opening in the body member from the exposed face thereof.

With reference to Fig. 2, it will be understood that in many instances the back of the holder to which the locking device is attached may be quite close to the end wall of a reflector or other portion of the lighting fixtures, or it may be adjacent the back portionv of another holder where lamps are mounted in a line. In either instance, the space available for attaching a locking device is quite limited, and, therefore, the principal feature of my invention is directed to the solution for readily attaching a locking device to holders in use.

In most instances, holders which are installed in lighting fixtures have a pair of openings 21 and 28 extending transversely through the body member from front to back. Inthis instance, use

has been made of one of these openings, 21 in this instance, to attach the locking device to the holder. The locking device at one end of its shank portion 2| is provided with a threaded opening 3| in a countersunk or distended portion of the shank. This is shown in detail in Fig. 6, which is an enlarged view of the end of the shank portion 2| showing the distended portion 33 thereof containing the threaded opening 3| for receiving the end of a machine screw 32 extending through the opening 21.

As shown in Fig. 2, the opening 21 is enlarged at the back portion of the body member so that the distended portion 33 of the locking device engages the edges of the opening and forms a bearing support for the locking device.

It will be apparent that the locking device may be attached to the body member of the holder by simply positioning the L-shaped member at the back of the body member and inserting the threaded screw 32 from the front of the holder.

In order to make the locking device positive in its action, the shank portion 2| may be slightly bowed outwardly from the back of the holder, as shown in Fig. 5. The length of the shank portion is such that when the locking device is actuated to its locking position, as shown in Fig. 1, for example, the shank portion straightens out due to the fact that the bent-over portion 22 of the device engages the end of the body member. This subjects the shank portion of the device to a tension which gives the device as a whole a positive snap action when it is actuated into and out of locking position.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, there is shown a modification with respect to the manner in which the locking device is secured to the body member of the holder.

In this instance, the L-shaped member is attached to the body member of the holder by means of a flat-headed screw 35 having a holding nut 36 recessed in the front face of the body member. The head portion 31 of the screw engages the countersunk or distended portion 33 of the L-shaped member, and this distended portion functions as in the other embodiment to provide a hearing or support for the L-shaped memher.

It will be appreciated that the first embodiment of my invention described is better adapted for use where it is desired to attach a separate locking device to a lamp holder which is already in 7 use. The second embodiment described is also suitable for this application in the event that there is sufiicient room to permit the screw 35 to be inserted from the back of the holder. This embodiment, however, may be readily applied to lamp holders which have not been installed so that it becomes an integral part of the holder.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that my invention provides a lamp holder of the locking type as well as a locking device which may be applied to existing holders, which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which will function to effectively prevent the lamp from becoming accidentally disengaged from the holder. The important feature of the locking device of my invention is that which makes it possible to attach it to lamp holders already installed in lighting fixtures. In addition, the nature of my locking device is such that it always will be used and not overlooked when replacing lamps. The device is such that when it is actuated to locking position, it cannot become accidentally unlocked because of the positive locking action provided by the double locking lugs as well as the force imparted to the bent-over end portion of the L-shaped member due to the fact that the shank portion thereof is bowed.

While I have disclosed two particular embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that modifications and changes maybe made therein without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lamp holder for use with tubular lamps having spaced contact pins at the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an entrance slot in one end and the front thereof to receive the contact pins and an opening therehrough from front to back intermediate its ends, a flatheaded screw member rotatably mounted in said opening with the head thereof at the back of the V holder, an L-shaped locking member mounted on said screw member at the back of the holder, said member having a flat shank portion bowed outwardly flatwise from end to end and extending along the back of the body member with a countersunk opening in one end thereof distended inwardly toward the back of the body member to receive the flat-headed screw and provide a bearing surface on the shank portion to engage said opening and a flat bent-over end portion extendingover the end of the body member toward the front thereof, said bent-over portion extending in the same direction as the screw member and having lu s thereon to engage the entrance slot.

2. A lamp holder for use with tubular lamps having spaced contact pins at the ends thereof comprising, a body member having spaced contact fingers therein and an entrance slot in one end and the front thereof to receive the contact pins of the lamp, a lamp-locking member, and shaft means rotatably securing the locking-member directly to the back of the body member, said locking member including a flat lever positioned along the back of the body member for movement thereover in a plane generally parallel to the front face of the body member and having a bent-over end portion extending over the top of the body member toward the front face thereof and having at least one downwardly extendinglug portion disposed to engage the entrance slot, the lever portion being bowed outwardly flatwise from end to end from the back of the holder, whereby the bent-over end portion is forced into engagement with the end of the body member when the locking member is rotated into locking position over the entrance slot.

HARRY E. SEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 413,636 Van Gestel Oct. 22, 1889 1,362,379 Whittingham Dec. 14, 1920 1,821,553 Kuhn et al Sept. 1, 1931 1,882,615 Huppert Oct. 11, 1932 2,105,465 Bannon Jan. 18, 1938 2,228,646 Summers Jan. 14, 1941 2,424,874 Beals July 2'7, 1947 2,436,431 Hasselhorn Feb. 24, 1948 

